Are the front and rear wheel bearings the same? This question might have crossed your mind a few times.
In this article, we get to know whether front and rear wheel bearings are the same.
Read on!
Are The Front And Rear Wheel Bearings The Same
Wheel bearings are steel balls that connect the wheel and axle and are held in place by a metal ring. They are usually located at the front and rear wheels.
They are essential components of the wheel that play a major part in the car’s braking and steering systems. They also ensure the wheels can rotate freely with minimum resistance from friction.
The real dilemma is whether the front and the rear wheel bearings are the same. There is not much difference between the wheel bearings because they all perform the same function of the smooth rotation of the wheels.
The thing that carries actual weight and can be said to differentiate these wheel bearings is when you come down to matters of size and positioning.
The front and rear wheel bearings are divided into two main parts, the inner and outer bearings. When it comes to the front wheel, the inner and outer are relatively located near each other at the wheel spindle.
On the other hand, when it comes to the rear wheel bearings, the inner bearing will be located at the axle near the side gear, and the outer will usually be found generally near the wheel.
Note that this does not apply to all cars because of their different builds and mechanics.
Another reason this may only be true for some vehicles is that positioning the wheel bearings depends on the weight of the front and rear, which also depends on whether it is a front, rear, or all-wheel drive type of vehicle.
Are The Front And Rear Wheel Bearing Interchangeable?
If you paid close attention to the previous discussion, you would have an answer for whether they are interchangeable.
We have seen that although the front and wheel bearings are similar in terms of function, they slightly differ in terms of the size of each wheel’s bearings and their positioning.
Let us now discuss the elephant in the room, can the wheel bearings of the front wheel freely be substituted with the rear wheel’s bearings?
Well, as we had stated before, there are three types of cars; forward-wheel drive, rear-wheel drive, and all-wheel drive. These types of cars have different weight distributions.
Also Read: Temporary Fix For Bad Wheel Bearing
For example, in forward wheel drive, it is nose heavy, therefore, logically, the front wheel bearings will be bigger and located differently from the general position.
The difference in size makes it hard to interchange the wheel bearings, meaning only the left and right sides of the same wheel side can be interchanged.
How Do You Tell If It’s The Front or Rear Wheel Bearing is Bad?
You may ask yourself, why would I ever want to interchange the two on earth?
Well, when your front or rear wheel bearings are completely busted, you may exchange them for a temporary fix as you await repair.
But first of all, can you tell which bearing, front or rear, is bad?
Like any other problematic issue, some signs indicate this is a bad wheel-bearing symptom. One of the most common signs is the presence of various noises, such as grinding, humming, and squealing noises. These factors narrow things into only two possible issues; bearings or brakes.
Therefore, by analyzing where the nauseating sound comes from, you can easily get to identify which wheel has a bad bearing.
In addition, you can also get to know you are dealing with a wheel bearing problem if you start to experience steering problems. If it is a forward wheel drive, the problem with the front wheel bearing and vice versa is true.
Is it OK To Replace Just One Wheel Bearing?
I hope you can now tell which wheel bearing has the problem much easier than before.
After identifying either the front or rear wheel as the problem and taking a further step to recognize the specific tire, can you choose to only replace the wheel bearings of that tire, or do you need to replace it as a whole set?
There is no straight yes or no answer here, and the choice is vested in you. In reality, there is no need to change the wheel bearings of the front wheel as a set if you have already identified which one specifically is busted. You can call a mechanic to change the one at fault and save some money in the process.
However, it is fine if you decide to change as a set. This is even better as although you will lose a couple of bucks in the process, you will avoid any future visits back to the mechanic.
Moreover, over time, the old wheel bearing balls will wear out faster, bringing up steering control and tire imbalance.
Can You Drive With a Bad Rear Wheel Bearing?
Now, you have a good grasp of knowledge of wheel bearings. So is it possible to continue driving your vehicle after you have noticed that your rear wheel bearings may be busted?
This may seem common sense, but in some instances, the problem may find you midway through a trip and requires quick decision-making.
Well, the answer will vary in various situations. Generally, when you are traveling and experience a bad rear wheel bearing, it will depend on certain factors if you will continue driving or call a tow truck. These factors are the amount of distance left and the severity of the damage.
If the distance is better, you can proceed cautiously at lower speeds. Also, if the severity of the damage is not too great, you can proceed, but it is always advisable, especially if your car is an RWD, to stop and call a lot of tow trucks.
Also Read: Can a Wheel Fall off From a Bad Wheel Bearing?
Conclusion
I bet that you now know what a wheel bearing is. Not only that, but you can be able to differentiate a front wheel bearing from a rear wheel bearing if they are spread on a table before you. To do this, we have set a very simple distinction technique which is by size and position.
On the second query, we have established that only the same set of wheel bearings, e.g., the front wheel, can be interchanged, and it is in the same manner that you will notice which wheel bearing is bad, which is by focusing on individual wheel sets through methods previously discussed.
Finally, we have concluded by establishing that you can choose to change only one set of tires and can drive with a bad rear wheel bearing but at risk. Therefore, always be cautious and remember that prevention is better than cure.
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I am passionate about all things automotive and have a deep understanding of the topic. As a mechanic, I use my free time to share knowledge of everyday challenges that any car owner can experience – helping you make informed decisions about tires.